Vehicle-spring



(No Model.)

7 M. WOODHULL.

, VEHICLE SPRING.

No. 255,904. Patented Apr. 4, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MORRIS WOODHULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,904, dated April 4, 1882.

Application filed April 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS WooDnULL, of Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carriages and other similar Vehicles; and I here by declare the following to be a full and complete description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of my application.

My invention relates to the support of the body and half side springs as applied to the rear part of that class of vehicles known as phaetons, and to an adjustable device fastened thereon, which, when shifted, will equalize the weight which the vehicle is carrying. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of a phaetonbuggy body with its side bars, and having a canopy or top properly attached thereto. This view shows the half side springs, the support, and the shifting fulcrum underneath the body, also how the tension device for stiffening the canopy-post is fastened. Fig. 2 is a detailed view in cross section of the movable or shifting fulcrum. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the tension-rod and the means by which it is fastened to the body of the phaeton. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of same, partly in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the drawings.

A is the phaeton-body; B, one of the side bars upon which the same is mounted; O G, the axles to which the carrying-wheels are attached. D is the half side spring. F is the shifting-fulcrum, bolted at its lower end to the spring D, and its upper part lipped so as to embrace ribs E G of the angular supporting-pieceP, fastened underthe body A. Along these ribs the fulcrum slides.

In place of the fulcrum, clips or bolts may be used to connect the supports to the springs.

H is the top or canopy of the phaeton, supported by the vertical rods It It. The lower ends of these rods are inclosed in a socketpiece, T, which has-suitable fastening-ears,m,

by which it is attached to the body, as shown in Fig. 1.

The rods themselves have threaded tenons 8 upon their lower ends, which project through a hole in the bottom of socket T, and upon which tenons a nut is screwed, for the purpose hereinafter named.

The half side springs are fastened under the body, the rear part of the rear axle, and the front part at any desirable point, as at the point e (shown in the drawings,-) but they may be attached in any other manner to suit, though I prefer to have their ends hinged, as shown.

The operation of these devices is as follows: Suppose one side of the vehicle is more heavi- 1y weighted than the other and it is desirable to have the both sides of equal weight, the bolts that hold the fulcrum fast to the spring on the side having the most weight are loosened, and it is shifted back or forth as required. This has the tendency to make the spring more rigid and throw a part of the weight to the other side. By the proper adjustment of the fulcrum the weight can be equalized, thus preventing the danger of displacing any part of the vehicle, avoiding accidents and holding the seat level.

While the use of adjustable fnlcrums is desirable, yet I do not propose to limit myself to them, as any stationary fastening may be employed.

In order to render the top or canopy rigid and immovable, the out a on the stem 8 is tightened. This draws the rod down and increases its tension to whatever degree desired.

The device maybe applied to all the supporting-rods; but I think it necessary to attach it only to the two rear ones, as the requisite result can thereby be just as well obtained.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the springs of a vehicle, of a fulcrum adjustably bolted to said springs and provided with engaging ribs adapted to slip over and be connected with a rigid support attached to the carriage-body. substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a phaeton-buggy, the combination of half side springs running lengthwise of the rear halfof the phaeton-body, the forward ends of which are bolted or hinged to the body and the rear ends of which are suitably coneling support is obtained for the rear part of nected to the rear axle or other support conthe vehicle, substantially as set forth. tiguous to said axle, in combination with a supporting or bridging iron connected to the 5 body, and an adjustable or stationary con- Witnesses:

necting device for uniting said springs and O. P. TREAT, supports, whereby a strong, elastic, and lev- \VM. R. CATROW.

MORRIS VVOODHULL. 

